John Stones 'Like a Child' in Gladbach vs. Manchester City, Says Roy Keane

Manchester United icon Roy Keane slated Manchester City star John Stones for his display in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach and said the Englishman was knocked off the ball "like a child" for the opposition's goal.

Keane appeared as a pundit on ITV's UEFA Champions League Highlights and laid into England international Stones for the part he played in Raffael's 23rd-minute opener in Germany:

Tom Bassam of MailOnline provided a transcript of the Irishman's comments, while fellow ITV pundit Lee Dixon added that Lars Stindl's pull on Stones "wasn't enough to send him to the ground."

Keane said (h/t Bassam):

"

He's got to be stronger, he's got to be tougher. It's just too easy, he's like a child getting knocked off the ball.

He's hoping one of his team-mates can help him out here but they [got] punished and rightly so. Really poor defending, he's got to be stronger.

He's a good player but he's just got to be tougher and stronger.

"

Stones has drawn mixed reviews since becoming the Premier League's most expensive defender upon his £47.5 million move to the Etihad Stadium from Everton in the summer, and it appears he's still suffering growing pains.

Keane, who made 480 appearances for City's biggest rivals, wasn't the only one to voice dissatisfaction with Stones' performance, either, as James Robson of the Manchester Evening News said:

Wednesday's draw was nevertheless enough for Pep Guardiola's men to secure their place in the Champions League round of 16, although they have no chance of securing top spot in Group C.

That position is occupied by Barcelona, who guaranteed a first-place finish after beating Celtic 2-0 in Glasgow on Wednesday, leaving the Citizens stranded four points behind in the runner-up spot.

City might have challenged for first place had they managed to seal a second group-stage win over Gladbach, but some Lurch-like defending from Stones and Co. means second is as good as things will get.

BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, a former team-mate of Keane's at Old Trafford, gave his view on Stones' City status prior to Wednesday's kick-off, stressing that we may yet see the centre-back thrive under Guardiola:

The 22-year-old's ball-playing ability and competence in possession were two major traits leading to Stones' move from Everton to City, although questions are being asked of the player's defensive quality.

Stones has plenty of time to prove he's the superstar many have tipped him to become, but Guardiola and City may not have the patience required to see that potential realised.